The 4th European Open School Team Chess Championships will take place 11-21 June 2009 in Varna (Bulgaria). The categories will be as follows: U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16. The tournaments will be held under the patronage of Mr. Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Chess Federation, the National Children's Chess Foundation "Morsko Konche" and the Municipality of Varna in the assosiation with the European Chess Union and the International School Chess Union have the honour of inviting the National Chess Federations and the School Chess Teams from Europe and all over the world to participate in the "IV OPEN EUROPEAN SCHOOL CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP" organized in Varna, Bulgaria from June 11th to June 21st 2009 and in the "VI OPEN EUROPEAN FESTIVAL "THE HOPES OF THE WORLD" from June 22nd to June 29th 2009.

Registration forms must be filled by the National Federations or the School Administrations and send by e-mail to the Organizing Committee not later than April 20th 2009.

GENERAL REGULATIONS OF THE OPEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

1. PARTICIPATION

1.1. Each National Federation may enter an unlimited number of School Chess Teams in each of the 5 age groups.

1.2. The team composition is four pupils (plus one reserve) from the same school; any combination of boys and girls is possible.

1.3. Each team shall have one Head of Delegation (coach or teacher).

1.4. Entitled to participate are players (Boys&Girls) who shall not have reached the age of:

8 by January 1st 2009 (date of birth January 1st 2001 and after) 10 by January 1st 2009 (date of birth January 1st 1999 and after) 12 by January 1st 2009 (date of birth January 1st 1997 and after) 14 by January 1st 2009 (date of birth January 1st 1995 and after) 16 by January 1st 2009 (date of birth January 1st 1993 and after)

1.5. Accommodation and travel expenses will be covered by the participants, federations, schools and their sponsors.

2. REGISTRATION CONDITIONS

2.1. Registration forms must be filled by the National Federations or the School Administrations and send by e-mail to the Organizing Committee not later than April 20 2009. If the registration form is not filled by the Federation a copy must be sent.

2.1.1. The print original of the Reg. form, signed and stamped by the School Principal, must be provided at the Techn. conference.

2.2. An actual coloured picture of each member of the delegation and a short info about the team should be attached also.

3. RULES

3.1. The tournament will be played according to the Swiss System in 9 rounds. National ratings will not be taken into consideration for the parings. Rate of play will be according to FIDE regulations. The time limit will be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 15 minutes for the rest of the game.

3.2. The tournament is valid for FIDE rating.

4. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS

4.1. Each team must pay 100 EUR to the Organizing Committee as a registration fee.

4.2. The cost of bus transportation from Varna airport to hotel on the arrival day with return on the departure day is 60 (80) EUR per team + 20 EUR for the Delegation Chief and any extra person.

4.3. At the moment of registration (until April 20 2009) the amount of the specified fees (registration and transportation) + 50% of the total accommodation cost must be transfered, free of bank charges, to the following bank account of the Org. Committee:

4.4. Once the Registration Form has been received and the transfer has been confirmed, the Org. committee will confirm the assigned booking for all the hotel reservations and will send visa invitations (if requiered). Delegations are advised to pay the total amount of their expences through the bank account.

4.5. For registrations after the deadline April 20th the registration fee is 130 EUR.

5. PLAYING HALL

The tournaments will be held in the halls of Grand Hotel Varna***** in "St. st.Constantin and Helena" Resort Complex.

6.2. Every participant is obliged to lodge at the official hotels. Every accompanying person that requests a visa from the Organizing Committee is obliged to lodge at the official hotels. Bookings are made only through the Organizing Committee (fill registrations and bookings forms).

6.3. Hotel payments for all players and accompanying persons must be made in advance as described in 4.3. and the rest 50% the latest by arrival. Hotel payments must be paid in EUR currency (euros). No future payments will be accepted.

7. VISA INFORMATION

Teams or players needing visas are requested to contact the Organizing Committee before April 20 2009 and apply on time to Bulgarian Authorities. The Organizing Committee will provide invitations for visas only after the necessary payments. The Organizing Committee has no responsibility on late or not complete applications.

8. PRIZES - AWARDS

8.1. The first team-winner in each age category is the European School Chess Team Champion for 2009 and all of them will be invited for the Fifth European School Chess Team Championship in 2010 with complimentary hotel & meals.

8.2. Team-winners of the First, Second and Third places in each age category will be awarded Special Trophies and their members - Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

International School Chess Union Alexander Kostyev - tel: +7 095 425 61 96 E-mail:
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For any other matter not mentioned in the General Regulations, the Organizing Committee may decide after consultation with ECU.

Please download General Regulations for "IV OPEN EUROPEAN SCHOOL CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP" and "VI OPEN EUROPEAN FESTIVAL "THE HOPES OF THE WORLD"

Please download Registration form for "IV OPEN EUROPEAN SCHOOL CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP" and "VI OPEN EUROPEAN FESTIVAL "THE HOPES OF THE WORLD"